By Amos Okioma
Bayelsans have been implored and urged to always provide constrictive crisis criticisms and proffer solutions on to sustain the laudable foundations being laid down towards infrastructural development, peace and security of the state by the Restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson.
Kemela Okara, the Secretary to state government stated this in his opening remarks at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre venue of the inter ministerial/Agency briefing organized by the ministry of information and orientation when it was the turn of the Commissioner of Health Prof. Ebitimitulla Etebu to give the stewardship from 2012 to 2018.
In his open remarks, the Hon Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso- Markson had enjoined the general public that the import the programme was to disclose that the Restoration Government under Governor Seriake Dickson has verifiable structure that has change the culture of good governance, accountability and transparency that is worthy of emulation and commendation by other leaders.
He however bemoaned and lampooned those vandalizing and stealing of government properties with special reference to the peace park where virtually all the equipment for picnic, recreation and relaxation has been vandalized thereby turning it to comatose and urged Bayelsans to protect , safeguard and secure all government projects and projects in their domain.” Government can’t be everywhere, government property should regarded as personal property.”
In his presentation, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, Hon Commissioner of Health said the mission and vision of the ministry is to turn Bayelsa state to Medical Tourism Centre where anybody from all over the world can access and afford medical services with minimal cost, stressing that the construction of the specialist hospital,diagnostic centre, functional Heath centers, collaboration with world Health Organization and Federal ministry of health, funding of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital among others were the fulcrum of the rest government from 2012 to 2018 .
He posited that there is silent revolution in the health sector and commended the ministry of information and orientation for affording the opportunity to unearth what the ministry has been doing which needs appreciation and commendation.
He also said the state has initiated so many policies and programs that are second to none in the country.
And taking the bull by the horns, the state government by embarking on manpower development.
Hence there has been training and retraining of the workforce and because health is wealth the Bayelsa Health scheme is a success story, safe delivery project once a woman is pregnant she becomes government responsibility until she delivered.
Eye test and provision of eye glasses for those with eye problems secondary school students, Bayelsa Telehealth , an initiative where health could be accessed through phone call, health insurance is also in place.” Bayelsa operates a three – tier healthcare system: Primary,secondary and tertiary.This is similar to what obtains in other states of the federation.over 182 Primary health facilities,37 secondary and two tertiary health facilities exist in the state.
He also disclosed that the specialist hospital is capable of handling strokes and other ailments and to safe guard against unwholesome sales of fake drugs, there is collaboration with NDLEA and NAFDAC as well as establishment of storage and distribution drug mart where all drug manufacturers have their desks.
Other feats were in area of upgrading of health institutions such as the School of Nursing and midwifery as well ambulance services.q
